Leisurely Day X Night of Slaughter

On the Mail Steamer.

As night fell, the already empty steel behemoth became even more silent.

Kevin and his friends sat on the balcony connecting several rooms, enjoying the sea breeze.

"Your fishing skills are really amazing."

Basho said with a hint of envy that he was born in an island country but did not have such technology.

Two sea fish were hanging nearby. These were not Kite's limit, but rather two carefully selected from the many fish he had caught; the rest he had released.

Judging from his meticulous selection, an unsuspecting person might think he was choosing dinner at a seafood market. "I grew up in a slum, so I had to master all sorts of skills to get food."

Kite explained from the side.

As he spoke, he gutted the fish with his bare hands, and before Basho and Goreinu could react, he had already sliced off the fish fillets with his bare hands.

"You hid a knife?" Basho asked suspiciously.

Kite shook her head. "Just a little trick."

Kevin could easily see that this was done by attaching mental energy to the fingers, something that could be achieved with a little practice.

After slicing the fish, Kite took out the seasoning kit, sprinkled on a little simple seasoning, and dinner was ready.

"Neither of you seem to be used to eating sashimi?" Kite asked, looking at Kevin and Goreinu.

Kevin nodded. "Whether it's steak or any other food, I don't like it undercooked, and sashimi is no exception."

Goreinu nodded in agreement.

After all, they don't live by the sea, so they're not really used to this kind of food.

Basho looked completely blissful, clearly already used to sashimi.

"If you rarely eat sashimi, you might have stomach problems. We still have two days and three nights before we reach the shore," Basho warned. Diarrhea at this point would be a real problem.

"It's alright, someone should come to trade with us soon." Kevin had barely finished speaking when...

There was a knock at the door.

"They're here," Goreinu said with a smile, then opened the door.

Standing at the door was Donpa, carrying in his hand the small stove that Kevin and the others had wanted to exchange during the day.

"Excuse me, everyone. I've come to exchange some tools with you." With that, Donpa raised the small stove in his hand and shook it, gesturing to the crowd.

"Two Life Vest," Kevin stated his condition.

Upon hearing this request, Donpa paused for a moment, then shook his head. "That's impossible. This isn't a seasoning kit; many people on this ship use it."

It's important to know that in addition to not providing food, the ship also did not provide water.

"That's why I offered double the price for the seasoning kit," Kevin said seriously.

Donpa looked at him.

"No, we need four."

"Just two items. Since when can stolen goods be sold for the same price as brand new ones? Haven't you ever dealt in stolen goods before?"

Kevin's words silenced Donpa.

A moment later, Donpa nodded decisively, completed the exchange, and left.

"He agreed to both?" Goreinu, somewhat surprised.

Kevin laughed and said, "Of course, from the time this item left its original owner until it reached us, it should have only passed through two people, so two pieces are enough."

Moreover, they couldn't wait to exchange it that very night, which clearly had a framing intent; they were willing to accept a lower price.

This guy is almost instinctively doing bad things, especially newcomers, talented newcomers.

The oven was clearly solar-powered, which was very convenient to use on the ship. With it, the group immediately started grilling food, and with the seasoning kit next to it, they should have a good time during their stay on the ship.

Goreinu certainly has excellent cooking skills; no wonder he was so interested in the seasoning kit.

"That Donpa, his mind is already twisted," Kite suddenly said.

Basho nodded. "That guy is particularly wicked. I heard that in the third round last year, he never even considered winning."

"He even tried to trick me into drinking juice," Goreinu added, as if remembering something.

After all, he'd been taking the exam for thirty years, and somehow his mindset had become distorted.

"Haha, it seems he's become a test in this process. He's twisted and wicked, yet he doesn't realize he's doing the very thing he hates most," Kevin said with a laugh.

"Who knows?" Basho pondered.

"However, newcomers who can withstand his deception and attacks generally achieve good results in their first exam." Goreinu seemed to know more about this aspect.

At least the Donpa's judgment of people is admirable.

He doesn't provoke every newcomer. He can even quickly devise a targeted plan to break down someone's spirit just by observing their behavior and engaging in simple conversation.

The group chatted idly for a while before returning to their rooms to rest.

The following morning, the ship went from quiet the day before to noisy. The corridors and decks were filled with insults and arguments.

"You bastard, how dare you steal my things!"

"Steal? No way, that's mine to begin with, hahaha."

"Yesterday was quite fruitful."

Such noise reached its climax at the deck exchange area.

Due to the rules, stolen items are exchanged directly on the spot. You cannot prove the item is yours, nor can you steal it, as fighting is prohibited. Verbal abuse is almost useless against a thieving rogue.

Today's exchange was much more "lively" than yesterday's.

Kevin and the others leaned against the edge of the deck, enjoying the sea breeze.

"How pleasant!" Basho exclaimed.

At this moment, he couldn't help but want to express his feelings—to compose a poem.

"That guy's watching us," Goreinu gestured towards the exchange area.

Kevin looked over and saw the young man he had exchanged Radio with yesterday; the oven was his.

"It seems he hasn't realized it yet; his eyes seem to accuse us of stealing his things," Basho said, turning her head to look over.

Kite shook her head. "No, he must have had his own doubts, otherwise he wouldn't have just stood there watching."

"Don't worry about it. For us, the important thing in the second test is to stay in good shape and be prepared for the possibility of the ship sinking at any time," Kevin said. These situations before the ship sinks are just appetizers.

Acquiring supplies and making good use of tools are all ways to be in better condition when a ship sinks and increase the chances of survival.

Those who are intelligent and farsighted have been preparing for this.

In the Captain's cabin, Wahachi leaned against the wall, bored out of his mind, staring blankly at the monitor screen.

"Those guys are so relaxed. Are they really here to take the exam?" At this moment, the surveillance footage he was watching showed Kevin three companions chatting and enjoying the breeze on the deck.

The Captain crossed his arms and said calmly, "Because they have been doing the right thing. Doing the right thing naturally deserves the corresponding reward."

"These four people must have known each other before they came, and in this test, they are naturally allies. Compared to other teams, the trust between them is much stronger."

"Moreover, they were the first to board the ship, so they easily guessed the purpose and potential problems of the second exam, and obtained the necessary tools in advance, making preparations accordingly."

"They are capable enough to protect their belongings, so it's understandable that the exam was easier for them."

Although the Captain said that, his eyes were actually fixed on Kevin the whole time.

He could sense that the other three were brought together by Kevin.

"Besides, you noticed those two guys are Nen user. As long as they're strong enough, they can move freely and remain calm." In this situation, the intrigue beforehand and the struggle for survival after the sinking ship...

It meant nothing to them.

For the four, the boring time passed quickly. They were completely detached from the treacherous atmosphere on the ship, and it was already the afternoon of the third day.

It was still on the deck, but the exchange was no longer there; to be precise, starting yesterday, the exchange had turned into a begging session.

However, this is meaningless, since no one would give food to a competitor, and even if they did, it might be laced with drugs.

It must be said that these candidates each had their own methods. On a ship with scarce resources, they managed to obtain various drugs that, while not lethal, would severely affect their condition, and used them for poisoning.

Because the rules don't explicitly prohibit poisoning.

Currently, a large majority of the test takers are experiencing various problems, including severe hunger, food poisoning, and dehydration.

"I wonder how many people will be eliminated this time," Goreinu remarked.

Apart from their slightly more aged appearance, the four of them were not much different from when they first boarded the ship.

There are very few candidates in such good condition as them.

"Tonight is the last night," Basho said, though outwardly expressionless, a hint of nervousness lingered within her.

"Hmm." Goreinu nodded, he was also a little nervous, because if nothing unexpected happened, the ship would sink tonight.

This is why the exchange meeting was unusually quiet today. After these past few days, the fact that the ship would sink was no longer a secret; almost everyone knew, but everyone kept it to themselves and secretly made preparations.

"This might be the most intense part soon, when the last remaining Survival Item will be the focus of everyone's attention," Kite said, adjusting her Newsboy Cap.

The Hunter Exam has always had a high mortality rate, and a shipwreck would be a real danger.

If they don't make it to their destination, the Hunter Association might really just let the person who fell into the water fend for themselves. Of course, they might also arrange a rescue, but no one can say for sure.

"Alright, the sun has set, let's go back and rest," Kevin said.

Hearing this, Basho couldn't help but turn to look at him. "How can you sleep in a situation like this?"

Kevin gave him a strange look. "What's keeping you awake? A ship this big won't sink to the bottom of the sea instantly. Even if it were to sink, there would be obvious noises. Don't worry, I won't sleep too soundly. I'll wake up immediately if there's any noise. Relax."

Kite nodded in agreement, "If you don't get enough rest, it'll be a real problem later."

Because this ship will go directly to the venue of the third exam, it's practically telling everyone that there will be no break in between.

Maintaining a good state now will be an advantage in the third exam.

Goreinu couldn't help but admire the two men for their composure under such circumstances.

In the Captain's cabin, the Captain, watching the situation on the monitor, suddenly picked up the walkie-talkie next to him.

"Connect me to all the ship's public address systems."

"Yes." The operator adjusted the equipment as required.

"Ahem, this is the Captain. After tonight, we will arrive at the venue for the third exam."

The ship is currently heading towards the island where the exam venue is located; tonight is the last night.

Therefore, I hereby declare that all previous rules are null and void, and you are all free. With that, the Captain cut off the broadcast.

"You have the nerve to talk to me like that? You're way worse than me." Wahachi was clearly surprised.

After all, the examiners have a lot of autonomy in each exam. Although she and the Captain are both examiners, they are not clear about how the other sets up the exam. They only occasionally check with each other about the general situation, such as the exam location, in order to cooperate.

"This isn't bad, it's a necessary arrangement." The Captain chuckled, his face full of anticipation for a good show.

"Tch." Wahachi scoffed dismissively, but his eyes quickly lit up as he stared at the monitor, because something interesting was about to happen.

At that moment, the four people who had just returned to their room heard the broadcast and immediately realized that the situation was about to turn extremely bad, and that they would become targets of robbery.

After all, everyone knew they had Life Vest, and some of the earlier and more knowledgeable people even knew that Kevin had a life raft, which was the only life raft on the ship.

"Looks like I won't be getting any sleep tonight," Basho sighed helplessly, frowning.

Goreinu looked helpless. "I knew it wouldn't be that simple."

More importantly, a lot of resentment and conflict had accumulated among the candidates on the ship over the past two days, which they had previously had to keep to themselves due to the rules.

Now, on this final night, everything will be decided by strength.

Even candidates who are not in good form will take the opportunity to retaliate against those they dislike. The battle that is about to erupt on the entire ship will surely be extremely fierce.

Kevin and Kite exchanged a glance, then without a word, got up, walked to the door, and opened it.

Their decisive action startled Basho and Goreinu. After all, they were the target of everyone's anger under these circumstances.

"Hey, we need to talk this over. It's too dangerous to rush out like this," Basho hurriedly advised.

Goreinu quickly chimed in, "Yes, quite a few people have been unhappy with us these past few days."

It wasn't that they did anything special; it was just that they seemed too relaxed, which aroused jealousy in others.

Unfounded hatred can arise from jealousy.

However, Kevin and Kite had already opened the door and were standing outside.

Basho and Goreinu exchanged a glance, sighed helplessly, and followed him out, ready for battle.

At this moment, some candidates were gathering in their direction.

"Hey, Donpa, aren't you going to take this great opportunity? I remember you really disliked those guys, right?" an older student asked with a smile.

Donpa merely glanced at him and waved his hand. "Sorry, I hate fighting the most. Go yourself if you want; I don't want to get involved."

"Really? Heh, then take care of yourself." After saying that, the man followed the crowd toward Kevin and the others.

Watching the man's retreating figure, Donpa looked at him as if he were a foolish person heading to their death, and curled his lip. "Idiot."

This guy has no sense of aesthetics.

It's worth noting that he also participated in the third exam last year, although he deliberately disrupted the newcomers and was ultimately eliminated.

But he had witnessed firsthand how formidable Kite was in battle last year.

That's not something an ordinary person can handle, let alone Kite's even stronger this year.

Moreover, the relationship between the newcomer named Kevin and Kite is clearly unusual.

Having taken the exams for thirty years, Donpa had developed a keen eye for people and knew exactly who was not to be trifled with.

The newcomer named Kevin gave him an inexplicable sense of danger, even though the other man seemed very friendly.

But he couldn't be wrong.

He naturally wouldn't get involved in such a thing.

At this moment, Donpa suddenly said inexplicably, "You rascal, you really can't wait."

Donpa turned around and saw the young man behind him who sold Radio; he was the owner of the oven from before.

The young man looked at Donpa with a puzzled expression. "Why are you targeting me? We don't know each other and we have no grudges against each other."

Why do something so dishonorable?

"No grudges?" Donpa sneered, a sinister and twisted expression on his face. "When you took the exam at such a young age and showed a certain talent, we already had a grudge."

"What I love to see most is you newcomers breaking down!"